The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1887-12-15

They had BEEN boarding together 1t
the farm, Jane Heth and Annie C0nyers
and all that autumn Mr.. Craig had been
fishing and shooting in the vicinity, and
making the farm, which was renowned
for it, good fare, bis headquarters. MIR.
Craig was handsome and dashing young
widower, and Jane Heth had made up her
mind that to be Mrs. Craig was her des-
tiny. Indeed, it might have been, for
perseverance can accomplish wonders,
had not Annie Conyers brought her
trunks, her crocheting, her sketch-book
and her blue parasol to the farm for the
summer.
Annie was not prettier, nor younger,
nor better dressed, nor more accomplished
than Jane but q man loves one woman
and does not love another, and who can
{ plain why? Among those hills and ON
that lake the Colonel gave his heart to
Ii tie Annie and she gave hers to him.
But on the day that called him home
nothing had been said that could have
been construed into q engagement; but
he had asked her if he might write to her,
and she had said Yes" and Jane had
heard the request and the permission.
Three days had passed since the Col
onel's departure, and one morning Jane
stood leaning over the gate when wagon
drove up the road and stopped by the
side of it moment. From beneath its
covers peeped the white head of an old
farmer.
"Good evenin', miss" said be. GIVE
been to the post-office, and they said there
N11tonSo f01Eo ouA I
fetched 'em over. Amt got my glasses
with me, 80 I don't know who they're
writ to, but you can see. All we'll ?
That's right. Good evenin'."
And away he drove, leaving Jane with
two letters in her hand, one tor herself
and one for Annie Conyers, from Mr..
Craig.
"And am 1 to give it to her." lnuttered
Jane, between her teeth"
And then, with an impulse that seemed
to her unconquerable, she hurried away
to q wood, hiding both letters in her
pocket. At least she would delay her ri
vaps happiness; she would not carry 1t
to her at once. Then alone in the green
shadow she took the letter from her
pocket, and looked long and curiously at
the superscription. Yes, it was from
Craig, and what had he said D.? Could
she but read what he had written, she
would know. She took pin from her
dress and drew it along the edge of the
envelope. 1t opened little space, but
the rest clang as closely as before. I'm
patient at this she forgot all prudence and
drew the pin across the paper with sud
den push. 1t cut it's way through, and
now the mischief was done.
James heart beat hard and fast with
terror, but she had gone too far to stop.
81 shall know the TRUTH" she said,
I" and letters are always being lost in
these country post-ofices. I'll read it
since I've torn it," Then she pulled away
the envelope, spread the sheet of paper on
her knee and read the following words:
DEAR Miss CoNYERs: II seems odd that a
man of thirty should be afraid to stand face to
face with girl OF twenty, and tell her that he
loved her but could not summon courage to
do so, nor TO ask the question that follows such
a confession So, far from you, commit my
hopes to this paper, and having in plain verbs
said love you, ask you in palmer words still
Do you love me enough to be my wife? II you
do, write to me at once, pray, and make me
the happiest man on earth by telling me so. If
you do not, then pain neither of us by refusal;
simply leave my letter unanswered. l can bear
it better But shall pray for the letter, for
love you better than my l'fe.
HARRY CRAIG.
Jane drew deep breath.
I" So it has gone as far as this" she
said. "What fools men are! She will
be glad enough to say YES but if
should destroy this bit of paper he would
never know it, and then-well, then he
would do his best to fill her place. Mems
heart, never break, and should meet him
in the city this winter, and there is no one
whom know suits me better. That old
man who gave me the letter never read
the address. There can be no inquiries
made. 1t would be safe to destroy it,
dangerous not to do 80 now, even if
wanted Annie to read it."
Then Jane tore the letter in two,
thrust it into its envelope and looked
about her. 1t would be dangerous to tear
it to bits IN the wood. Its white frag-
ments might attract some eye among the
greenness of the grass. Jane hurried to
the watar side, and, looking over her
shoulder as one might who expected to
see a ghost, tossed the little package in.
It fell with the closed side downward.
and distended by the torn note which was
roughly thrust into it. The surface was
hard and highly finished, and shaped 80
as to resist the water. A little breeze
that had just sprung up favored it, and
away 1t foated like little boat, deity
clearing the shore and lacking and turn
ing as it passed the dark, half-hidden
breasts of the little rocks over which the
water played.
Goodbye" said Jane, laughing as she
watched it. have set vessel, freight.
ed with the hopes of Harry Craig afoat
in fine style. I am afraid that it will
make shipwreck, but all the better for
some one else. It's an ill wind that blows
no one any good.
And turning, she tripped towards the
house.
At this moment, further along this
same stream, where, in little cove, lay
hidden great tangle of water lilies, An.
ME Conyers sat in a rough little boat,
rowed by Mrs. Wilton's son Peter, q shock.
headed boy Of twelve. Little Fannie
Wilton sat beside her, and the two girls
drew up the dank, dark green stems Of the
great beautiful white flowers.
"If one could only carry them to the
city," said Annie "but they always die.
How greedy I am, I can never get enough.